“Still optimistic,” Matheny said of getting Holliday back in the lineup next week. “We do have hopes, but understand, too, that if something doesn’t feel right, look right, we can back off. But we’ll continue to try to push him.”

The 35-year-old Holliday had just three home runs in 52 games prior to the injury, but he was batting .303 with a .417 on-base percentage. Randal Grichuk and Peter Bourjos have functioned as regulars in the Cardinals’ lineup in recent days.